The crude extracts of Balanitesaegyptiaca (L.) Delile
(Balanitaceae) was evaluated for anthelmintic activity using adult earthworms; the bark
extract exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition of spontaneous motility
(paralysis). The result shows that the aqueous extract possesses wormicidal activity and thus, may be useful as an anthelmintic.

Keywords-Anthelmintic, Balanitesaegyptiaca, Pheretimaposthuma

Introduction

����� Balanitesaegyptiaca (L.) Delile
belongs to family Balanitaceae is a small tree
reaching a height of around 10m with compound leaves and greenish yellow
flowers, and brown or pale brown fruits.�
It is widely used as good firewood and charcoal; edible fruit and seed has 30-40% of edible
oil; young foliage and fruits are eaten by goats, sheep and camels; plant
parts are used as soap substitutes because of high saponin
contents; thorny branches used for fencing (Fernandes,
2003).� Helminth
infections are among the most common infections in man, affecting a large
proportion of the world's population. In developing countries they pose a
large threat to public health and contribute to the prevalence of
malnutrition, anaemia, eosinophilia,
and pneumonia. Although the majority of infections due to worms are generally
limited to tropical regions, they can occur to travellers
who have visited those areas and some of them can develop in temperate
climates (Bundy, 1994). The objective of the present work to investigate the anthelmintic activity of root bark of Balanitesaegyptiaca.

Material and Methods

����� The plants were
collected from the local villagers of Madhya Pradesh,
India during 2008 and
confirmed by Dr. S. N. Dwivedi, Head, Department of
Botany, Janata PG College, A.P.S.University, Rewa,
Madhya Pradesh, India.
The plant parts after collection was shade dried, powdered (40 mesh size) to
get a coarse powder. The dried powder material (200 gm) was thoroughly mixed,
taken in 1 liter beaker and distill water in sufficient quantity was added,
then it was kept for maceration for 72 hours. The aqueous extract obtained
was filtered and concentrated on hot plate. Adult earthworm Phertimaprosthuma
were collected (due to its anatomical and physiological resemblance with the
intestinal roundworm parasites of human being) from moist soil, obtained from
Agriculture College Rewa, M.P.-India and washed out
of sand. Four groups of approximately equal size earthworms (8+1 cm)
consisting of six earthworms in each group were used for the present study
(Blakemore, 1999;� Gunasekhararanet
al 2006;� Dwivediet al. 2008).� Albendazole is
taken as standard drug and the concentration of the standard drug was
prepared in 1% gum acacia in normal saline to give 100mg/ml, 80mg/ml,
60mg/ml, 40mg/ml and 20mg/ml concentration. Five groups of approximately
equal size earthworms consisting of six earthworms in each group were used
for the present study. Each group was treated with one of the following vehicle
(1% gum acacia in normal saline), albendazole and
aqueous extract (100mg/ml, 80mg/ml, 60mg/ml, 40mg/ml and 20mg/ml
concentration). Observations were made for the time taken to paralysis and
death of individual worms. Paralysis was said to occur when the worms do not
revive even in normal saline. Death was concluded when the worms lost their motality followed with fading away of their body color (Gunasekhararanet
al 2006; Dwivediet al� 2008). The results were analysed for stastical
significance using one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett�s �t� test and
are� presented in (Table 1).

Result and Conclusion

������ The result of anthelmintic activity of aqueous extract on earthwormsphertimaprosthuma were given in Table 1.� The aqueous extract of root bark of Balanitesaegyptiaca
(L.) Del. showed significant anthelmintic activity.

It was concluded from the study that the aqueous extract
showed marked and potent anthelmintic activity than
the standard drug albendazole.

Acknowledgement

Authors are thankful to Dr. S. N. Dwivedi
for the identification of plants and also thankful to the Mr. SumeetDwivedi, Chordia Institute of Pharmacy, Indore
M.P. for their keen support during the course of present investigation.

References

Blakemore, R. 1999. Diversity of Exotic Earthworms in
Australia- A Status Report. Transactions of the Royal Zoological Society
of New South Wales.